NOS 66 67 Trico wiper refills

[David L.]

Pictured below are two different NOS Trico RF-15 wiper refill with the 3 ribs.

The top refill has the metal end clip and has the following molded into the rubber:
"ONE OR MORE PATENTS", "2543383, 2687544, 2697241", "2766474, 2834976, BR683375", "702899, 702900", "702849, CAN. 52, 55, 59", and "PATENT PEND." I assume this refill is the same as those installed on the 1966 and 1967 assembly lines. I would appreciate any comments.

The bottom refill does NOT use the end clip and has four 1/2" long by 1/16" deep "curved cutouts" in the rubber on each side. The text molded into the rubber is also different and is as follows:
"ONE OR MORE PATENTS", "2687544 2697241 2766474", "TRICO 2733469 2 (digits are cut out) ", "TRICO PAT. 2543383 CAN. 1949", "702900 683375", "733626 790490 CAN. 52 54 55 59". I assume this refill was made in later years since it does not use the metal end clip.

Dave

[Peter L.]

Re: NOS 66 67 Trico wiper refills

Dave - You gotta love TRICO. They seem to use the same TRICO part number even when there are differences in the part that is in the box. Right now I'm looking at TRICO Wiper Blade boxes with PR-15-2 on the end flap and both boxes have "PR Rainbow WIPER BLADE" on the front but one box has "Preflexed for Curved Windshields" below the "PR Rainbow Wiper Blade" while the other box has "Preflexed for Panoramic Windshields." The box with the "Preflexed for Curved Windshields" has the typical TRICO wiper blade with the 3 ribbed TRICO Refill with the Latch-Lock on the one end that we find on 66-67 Corvettes, Chevrolets, Chevelles, etc. The blade in the box with "Preflexed for Panoramic Windshields" has TRICO wiper blade with a long center bridge and short end levers on both ends and the clip that attaches to the arm is the narrow clip. The refill has the 3 ribs and the cut outs and the metal vertebra has the notch at one end to lock it into the lever jaw of the holder as you show but this one has the black rubber end caps on both ends of the refill. I have also seen this configuration of refill on TRICO wiper blade in boxes that indicate "PR-15 WITH DUAL CONNECTOR" on the end flap. Pete

[David L.]

Re: NOS 66 67 Trico wiper refills

Pete,

Back in the 1980's I collected many wiper blades from junk yard cars. Pictured below is a 15" Trico "shiny" wiper blade with black rubber/plastic (either hard rubber or plastic) end caps as well as total of 59 "dots" (or "bumps") on the rubber refill. The rubber refill measures 14 3/4" long and the measurement from the first "dot" to the last "dot" is 14 11/32" making the spacing between dots about 1/4" (14.34"/58 spaces = 0.247"). Unfortunately I did not tag it at the junk yard but it must be from either a 1959-1960 Chevrolet (GM # 3764904, 15" Trico, in the Chevrolet parts catalog) or from a 1961 Chevrolet (GM # 3779740, 14 7/8" Trico).

GM # 3764904 was replaced by GM # 3779740 in June 1961 which was then replaced with GM # 3819071 in April 1962 as per Chevrolet Parts History. GM # 3819071 (14 7/8" Trico) is listed for 1962-1965 Chevrolets and 1963-1965 Corvettes in my 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1965 Chev. parts catalogs.

Enclosed are two not so great photos. You have to look very closely to see the "dots" in the first photo.

The 1959-1961 Trico holders do not have the 1/16" by 1/6" notch at the top end of the holder like the 1962-1965 holders as shown in my second photo.

Dave